As I Lay Dying tells the story of the Bundren family’s journey to fulfill the dying wish of their matriarch, Addie Bundren, who wants to be buried in her hometown of Jefferson, Mississippi. The novel unfolds through a stream-of-consciousness narrative, with 15 different characters providing fragmented and often conflicting viewpoints. Each family member, from the stoic father Anse to the introspective son Darl, carries personal burdens and secrets, adding layers of complexity and dysfunction to the family’s difficult trek.
Throughout the journey, the Bundrens face a series of physical and emotional challenges—including floods, fire, injury, and internal betrayal—that test their loyalty and resilience. Faulkner uses these hardships to explore themes of death, identity, and the absurdity of existence. The novel’s experimental structure and psychological depth create a haunting portrait of grief and the human condition, making As I Lay Dying a cornerstone of modernist literature.
